2024 Sees 84% Spike in Individuals Charged with Hate-Motivated Crimes; Public Transit, Streets Key Locations
TORONTO, ON – The Toronto Police Service (TPS) has released its 2024 Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report, revealing a significant 84% increase in the number of individuals charged with hate-motivated crimes compared to the previous year.
In total, 115 individuals were charged in 2024, up from 63 in 2023, reflecting the continued work of the TPS centralized Hate Crime Unit and the agency’s intensified focus on addressing hate incidents citywide.
Reported hate crimes also rose by 19% year-over-year, with 443 incidents reported in 2024 compared to 372 in 2023. However, this represents a slower rate of increase than the 46% surge recorded between 2022 and 2023.
Interestingly, in early 2025, TPS reports a 47% decrease in reported hate crimes year-over-year, though officials caution that hate crimes remain highly underreported and continue to pose serious social harm to affected communities.
Key 2024 Findings
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209 hate-motivated criminal charges were laid, a 34% increase from 2023.
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8 charges of Public Incitement of Hatred—a rarely applied Criminal Code offence—were laid in 7 cases.
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Public spaces and transit emerged as primary locations for incidents, with an 88% increase in reported hate crimes on Toronto’s transit system.
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Religion was the most common motivating factor, followed by sexual orientation and race/ethnicity.
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The Jewish, 2SLGBTQ+, Black, and Muslim communities were the most frequently targeted, with a notable rise in hate crimes targeting the South Asian community (41 incidents, up from 14 in 2023).
Common hate-motivated offences included:
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Mischief
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Assault
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Uttering threats
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Criminal harassment
Toronto Police Focus on Prevention, Education, and Partnerships
TPS has intensified its outreach and educational campaigns, including:
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Launching the Hate Motivated Graffiti Intake Form, which received over 440 submissions in 2024.
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Expanding the TPS Hate Crime Dashboard and translating educational materials.
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Project Next Stop, in partnership with Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), to combat hate crimes on transit.
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Continuing the Crime Stoppers Hate Crime Awareness Campaign.
Deputy Chief Rob Johnson emphasized the broader harm of hate crimes, stating:
“Hate crimes have far-reaching effects that go beyond the victim—they impact families, friends, and entire communities. While progress is being made, much more work remains to stop hate in all its forms. We urge community members to report any incidents of hate, bias, or prejudice so we can work together to prevent these crimes.”
The Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report is based on data from January 1 to December 31, 2024, and captures offences motivated by bias against race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other similar factors.
For more details, visit tps.ca.
